Post navigation

The Team

Have I ever mentioned that Marlboro Man has no tolerance for inaccurate portrayals of ranching on TV shows or movies? Yeah. It’s a real problem. He loves watching westerns, both old and new, and while he doesn’t seem to object to the romanticizing of life on the range, he just can’t handle it when the director or screenwriter inserts a word or a phrase or an action into the story that just wouldn’t, in real life, go down. I try to placate Marlboro Man when he gets like that, saying, “Yes, dear, but that’s what makes it a MO-VIE…” but still, he just sits and seethes.

A perfect example is the modern western “Open Range” with Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, and Robert Duvall. It’s a pretty good movie and Marlboro Man actually rather likes it except for one fatal error in the script. At one point, a character is commenting on the astute skills of one of the hands and he declares, “Boss shore can COWBOY, can’t he?” He might as well have criticized our firstborn son because Marlboro Man immediately recoiled. “Nobody in the history of the world has ever said ‘He shore can cowboy’.”

Not knowing the difference, of course, I say, “Well, what would they say?”

“They’d say ‘He’s pretty salty’ or ‘He’s pretty damn punchy’ or ‘He’s good help.’ NOT ‘He shore can Cowboy.'” he replied. “You could also say ‘He’s a good hand’ or ‘He’s a good hand with a rope’ or ‘He’s a good hand with a horse’.” Then he goes on to enjoy the rest of the movie. But that one error alone will prevent “Open Range” from ever achieving “Great Movie” status in his mind. These cowboys can be so cinematically judgmental.

We won the ranch rodeo over the weekend. It was our third win in as many years, which is unprecedented for our little team, which has seen its share of 10th, 11th, and 12th places through the years. I’m excited for the guys, who seem to have found a rhythm in working together, in bringing the skills they use everyday on the ranch into the arena and pulling them out at just the right time. And all I have to say is this:

THESE BOYS SHORE CAN COWBOY!

Here’s Cowboy Lynn. He’s a good hand with a rope.

Roping is one of the most important things in the rodeo, because if you miss a loop, you get a No Time. And No Times are baaaad. Real, real bad. They make cowboys cranky.

That’s Cody, Lynn’s boy. He’s been on the team for all three wins.

Cody brings speed—and fierce determination—to the table. Not bad for a seventeen year old.

And speaking of “he’s a good hand with a rope…”

Cowboy Tim is our roping hero. He did an awesome job, just as he does in the cattle pen every time we work calves. That boy shore can cowboy.

Here’s Cowboy Lynn and Cowboy Tim, working together. They do that pretty well.

Here’s Cowboy Tim, roping the cow for the Wild Cow Milkin’. See, if he’d missed the first loop, he would’ve gotten only one more try. If he’d missed the second loop, we would have gotten a No Time, which would have made him cranky.

Cowboy Tim holds the cow still while our other team members, Marlboro Man and Pesky Tim, move in to get her under control.

Though, when you’re talking about a 1,200 pound wild cow, “under control” is a relative term.

Why, would you look at that! They got her! Those boys shore can cowb…

Oh, wait…maybe I spoke too soon.

Whew—finally! The team worked together and got ol’ Bessie milked…

And Lynn ran the milk across the finish line. This is always my favorite part.

Another event I love is the Team Sorting. In this event, the team is assigned a number (in our case, 5) and they must ride into a herd of cattle and sort out the cattle bearing that number. The secret is to get the best time AND not to allow any strays to get out of the herd.

Can I just pause for a moment and admire my husband atop his strong, beautiful steed?

Thank you. I needed that.

Pesky Tim is a good hand at sorting. (Hey! I’m starting to get the hang of the whole “Good Hand” thing.) He rides right in immediately and cuts out the #5’s. He makes it look totally effortless.

Marlboro Man rides in and helps, too. Those boys are pretty salty.

What does “salty” mean, exactly? I’ve never heard it used in this context before.

Finally, it’s time for the Wild Horse Race, which ends each evening with a bang. And sometimes, a broken limb.

On the cowboys, not the horses—don’t worry!

The Wild Horse Race takes some real team effort. Cowboy Josh must open the gate just enough to allow Cowboy Lynn to ride in and get the Wild Horse dallied. Pesky Tim is holding the saddle, waiting to throw it on, while Marlboro Man is poised to mug the horse into submission.

Meanwhile, my heart is poised to seize up.

And they’re off!

Lynn does a good job dallying (dallyin’?) the horse, as Marlboro Man moves around to grab the horse at the right angle.

Things look promising, so Tim starts moving toward the horse with the saddle.

Do you have any idea what Marlboro Man’s doing to that wild horse?

No?

Well, let me tell you. He’s actually biting down on the horse’s ear, which somehow makes it want to stand still—not at all unlike rubbing the tummy of a crab to paralyze it, which I actually did one summer in Hilton Head. Now, I can understand the tummy rubbing thing; if someone were rubbing my tummy, I think it could be quite relaxing. But the ear biting? If it were me—if someone were sinking his teeth into my ear—I think my reaction would be a little more violent.

But that’s just me.

I always bring a roll of dental floss to the ranch rodeo. It’s important always to be prepared.

There goes Pesky Tim with the saddle!

Go, Tim, go! Saddle that thing! I’d help you, but I think it’s time for you to learn to stand on your own.

He got it! Marlboro Man…you can let go now.

Yay, team! You did it! You worked hard and it paid off in the end. And I just have to say one thing:

YOU BOYS SHORE CAN COWBOY!

Gotta go pack. After Marlboro Man reads that last part, I’m gonna have to find another place to live.

Comments

congrats on your wins! i noticed that the hats stayed on pretty long as well.

my man is an Air Force guy – don’t get us started on how bad movies represent certain aspects of the military. Tom Cruise walking into a court room having his hair touch his collar? A Navy man at that? puhleeze.

Theresa

Congratulations to those cowboys!!

Janet

Whew! My first chance to read your blog after coming back from vacation! Wow, those guys can move! They make me tired: I’m going to take a nap now.

Maria TN

Could have done without the whole ear biting thingy. Yuck!

http://www.viewfromthefishbowl.blogspot.com Ariel

Loved the story board! Looks like you guys did really well!! Congrats! And I’m sure Marlboro Man will be okay in a few days.

http://weathermoose.blogspot.com Weather Moose

woo hoo!

http://dkwwrites.blogspot.com/ Dawn W

I’m thinking y’all had a really great weekend! Did the bad storms miss you?

daryl

what a great description! I feel like I was there…and pinkie and homegirl look really into the whole thing!

http://www.edwardsnewsupdates.blogspot.com Duchess

You’re right – They shore can cowboy!! Thanks for taking us to the rodeo & as always, great pics.

http://www.letjoyresound.blogspot.com Alicia

I often enjoyed watching rodeos as a kid. It’s fun to learn more about what actually goes on at a rodeo. Thanks, and great pics.

http://jeanieinparadise.blogspot.com jeanie

Let me guess – he has the same problem with Farmyard that I have? I tell you, bulls with udders will cause him to overlook your little cowboy remarks!!

Genny

Congratulations on your win! Ree, you sure do take great action shots — makes me feel like I was there! Thanks!

Keturah

Wow! those are some action packed photos!

SueZ

Ooohhh boy, all those chaps in the morning! Be still my heart……………

MK

They look very handsome in their matching shirts and hats. Looks like a great team effort. Congratulations on another big win!

Liz-RedApron

Congrats on your team’s winning streak and You Go Girl to your first born! I also have 10 yo daughter and there is NO WAY she’d ever do that! Nice chaps pics, too. They shore can cowbo….

http://brodony0123.blogspot.com/ Colleen

Man, I love reading your blog. This post is fascinating!

Congrats on the win! The boys looked awesome.

I just hope Marlboro Man goes easy on you for all those inappropriate statements. I’d hate to go without your blog posts for too long.

Laura S

Congrats to your cowboys – they are impressive in pictures — I can’t even imagine how impressive they would be in real life.

So glad they won!!!!!!

If I had seen that movie, I would have been thinking what a stupid (I know this is not a nice word, but it fits) comment. It doesn’t even sound natural. That is the way I feel about so many ‘southern’ movies, which generally depict all southerners as uneducated (and the accents that actors try to pull off as southern, puh-lease).

jewelee

Congratulations — they are all pretty salty! Did you get a group shot with the trophy or ribbons?

http://www.trixieshome.blogspot.com/ Trixie

Congratulations! And thanks so much for the photos of the action!

Patty

SWOON! That looks like sooooo much fun! Congrats on the 3rd win in a row!